Page 29 of The Iron Highlander
Reuben nodded, “I wanted to offer my best wishes to Willow. I went down to see her, but they wouldnae let me in. I didnae know where else to go, or who to talk to.”
“And so ye came to me, aye?” Kate asked, raising an eyebrow. “Or ye didnae know I was here? Is that the lie ye want to spit now?”
Reuben huffed a breath, shaking his head. “Nae, I knew ye were here. I came here to talk to ye, and it wasnae just about Willow. But I do mean everything I said. I want her to get well, I really do. I mean, who else is going to steal all of Lily’s dinner?”
Kate chuckled, and then laughed, as she had seen it happen so many times. She was not aware that Willow had been doing it since they came to the McDonald household. But the idea that she was doing the same thing which she had been doing since they were kids had struck a chord with Kate, and she laughed. Reuben joined her as well.
The Laird turned and walked over to the parapet, staring out to the lands. Kate watched him for a moment, seeing the door which he had left unguarded. It was her chance to leave, and get away from him, but she went against her better judgment. Instead, Kate turned around and walked up beside him, staring out at the beautiful landscape as well.
“Beautiful, isnae it?” Reuben asked.
“Breathtaking,” Kate replied. She looked to his bandaged arm and then to his face. “How are ye doing?”
“All good,” Reuben replied. “I have been thinkin’, tryin’ to understand who would want to attack my clan, and I have a few suspicions. I was hoping to run them by my maither, so we would know the best defense and offense to prepare. But Lady Grear seems to have refused to leave Willow’s side, I was wondering if we could talk about it?”
“There is nae question. It was none of the people ye think it is. My uncle has figured out where I am, and he sent the assassin. He was the one behind the attack. I was the target, and ye were just caught in the line of fire.”
“Well we cannae be certain, I mean there is a chance that it could be another of my faither’s enemies,” Reuben continued. “My faither made a lot of enemies in his day, and I am sure that there are a lot of people who would want their vengeance on the McDonald estate.”
“If they did, why wait till now?” Kate shook her head. “I’m almost sure this is my uncle.”
Reuben nodded, looking at her for a moment. Kate stared at his face, taking in the features. His strong jawline and dark gray eyes made him a pleasure to look at. He looked amazing, as much as she was not looking to admit it. Reuben rubbed his chin. “I will send men over to the McGowan house. Just to talk with theservants, see if they know anything about the Laird’s plans. If he is the one, then he will have to deal with us directly.”
The ensuing silence lasted for a few minutes as they watched Hilda together from above. She walked out to the garden picking the herbs which she was going to use to treat Willow. Kate wondered how long the sickness would last, and how they would be able to travel soon. She wanted to leave, as she did not feel safe there. If Max had found out that they were there, he would not stop trying to get them, and knowing just how stubborn the Laird was, there were no lengths he would not go to get what he wanted.
“I’m sorry I kissed ye, back in the woods.”
Kate turned to him with a raised eyebrow. “What?”
“I didnae mean to take advantage of ye. I wasnae sure that ye wanted to, and so I moved without thinking. I’m sorry.”
Kate shook her head, and then stopped. She felt herself blush, and she looked away, not wanting him to see. “Ye didnae do anything wrong, Reuben.”
Kate heard him move so he would get a better view of her face, but she turned even more. She had wanted the kiss. Her body had wanted it, more than anything. She wanted to do it again, as her lips had not felt the same since they had shared the kiss. Kate wanted more, but how could she tell him? How could she even admit it to herself?
“But?”
“I daenae ken, Reuben, I have my own emotions and ideas in my head, and I have to figure them out before I…I daenae have the answers,” said Kate.
“I understand if ye hate me. If I believed the same thing ye did, I would feel the same way ye did.”
Kate shook her head, “Nae. I daenae hate ye, Reuben, I just…I cannae stop thinking about ye, and it ruins my day!”
Kate felt her heart skip a beat as she said that. Shocked that it had slipped out. She had not wanted to say it, and yet she had. She looked up at the Laird who had a huge smile on his face, beaming at her with pure delight. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking around as though he did not want anyone else to hear what he was about to say.
“Well, if I may say, ye scent ruins my day too. Each time I walk by ye, it just…the lavender, where do ye get it?”
“It was my maither’s, I got it after she died,” Kate replied.
“It’s really nice. Now everything around me smells like lavender, and each time, it makes me think of ye.”
Kate smiled and turned away, getting comfortable. “Well, it’s because ye’re always so filthy, that’s why ye like it so much.”
“That is nae true! Go ahead, sniff me!” Reuben replied, getting closer to her.
“Get away from me,” Kate said with a laugh, backing away. “Go!”
Kate laughed and laughed, with Reuben getting closer and closer, backing Kate into a corner. She smiled, and stopped, realizing that there was no space for her anymore. Reuben leaned in for her to smell him, and then he took his nose to her neck, with the smell of lavender filling his nostrils again. Kate shuddered as she felt his lips on her neck. It moved up along her neck, as he blocked her path with his arms to the left and right side of her.
